Road Safety Measures Considered by the Government – Initial Comment and Reaction from the NMC

Road Safety Strategy must have a strong focus on reducing motorcycle rider vulnerability Responding to reports in the Times, followed by the BBC and other media outlets about the Government’s plans for the forthcoming Road Safety Strategy, the NMC this morning has underlined the need for the new Strategy to have a clear focus on improving motorcycle safety though greater policy recognition for motorcycling and road safety support for motorcyclists as vulnerable road users. NMC Executive Director Craig Carey-Clinch said: “We welcome news that the Government’s long overdue Road Safety Strategy is finally progressing, particularly as the overall level of road casualties has not significantly changed since 2013. However, the strategy must have a strong focus on supporting safety improvements for motorcycling.

Moto Guzzi Factory gets Makeover

Moto Guzzi’s factory at Mandello del Lario, which has been building bikes since the 1920s, is to get a comprehensive makeover, led by renowned American architect Greg Lynn. (And yes, he owns a Guzzi). The factory has long been a place of pilgrimage for Moto Guzzi fans, hosting rallies and welcoming riders to its own museum. The plant’s distinctive architecture and its iconic wind tunnel (built in the 1950s to develop race bike aerodynamics) have made it one of the world’s most famous motorcycle factories. The overhaul will include new event zones and facilities for visitors, but the Guzzi faithful can relax – Mandello won’t become a theme park, and will still be building bikes. New production lines for engines and complete

Imps Display Team on Pause

The Imps Motorcycle Display Team appears to be on pause, having cancelled all future performances with immediate effect. Although there’s no indication what the cause might be, but a statement on the group’s website stated: “A recent review of the organisation has brought to light several critical areas that need attention before any future activity could even be considered.” It went on: “These are not easy fixes. They require time, care and thoughtful reflection. To press on regardless would risk compromising the very standards and values that made The Imps what they are today." The Imps is an East London-based charity, set up by the late Roy Pratt MBE in 1970, to train children aged between five and 16 to learn

New Bikes Sales Down in UK & EU

UK motorcycle dealers are not having a good 2025 so far, with new sales in June 2025 falling by 18.6% compared to the previous year – the year-to-date figures are down by 20.1% (figures supplied by the MCIA). And it’s affecting everything from mopeds to superbikes and giant adventure tourers. However, the UK trade can console itself with the fact that it is not alone – motorcycle sales across the major EU markets (with the exception of Spain) are also on a downward trend. In France, Germany and Italy ¬– which together with Spain and the UK make up the five biggest bike markets in Europe – saw sales slump in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period

Energica Sparks Back Into Life

Energica, the Italian electric superbike manufacturer, may have been saved. The company, which has been making electric bikes since 2010, was declared bankrupt in October 2024. In early July 2025 we reported that a possible new investor was in the wings, but it was all a bit vague. But according to a video posted on the official Energica YouTube channel in mid-July, a rapid restructuring of the company was due to be complete in about 60 days. Energica Global Sales Director Stefano Benatti said in a statement: “The news is true, Energica is resurging...The judicial process undergoing the sale of Energica has received an offer with a significant deposit from investors based in Singapore...If the process comes through successfully, the same

Women’s Bike Relay Goes Digital

The Women Riders World Relay (WRWR) is coming back in 2026, and opening up to thousands more than before, thanks to an app. The original relay, which took place in 2019, saw a succession of female motorcyclists all over the world carry a physical baton over 60,000 miles through over 100 countries. The BMF’s own Louise Hillier took part, helping carry the baton from Cornwall to London. The 2026 WRWR will be different, with a virtual baton based in an app, open to all women riders Hayley Bell, founder of WRWR, told MCN: “We wanted to build a tool that could include everyone. Women bikers have been crying out for a voice, this is the tool to use it. One of

Motorcycle Thefts Down in June

Thefts of powered two-wheelers of all types totalled 2064 in June 2025, slightly down (by 72) compared to May. According to statistics compiled by Bennetts, and sponsored by Datatool and BikeTrac, this overall figure hid some big regional variations, with some police authority areas reporting an increase in thefts. In Warwickshire, thefts soared by 76% (up from 21 in May to 37 in June) while Hampshire (from 53 to 80) and Staffordshire (50 to 71) were also hard hit. Some areas saw huge percentage increases, but this was down to the small number of cases involved – thefts were up in Northern Ireland by 700%, but only because the eight cases in June dwarfed that of May, when just a single

Adventure Motorcycle Film Fest to launch

Remember the Adventure Travel Film Festival? It ran for over a decade, showing a weekend of travel films at various sites in the UK, ostensibly about all forms of travel but often focusing on bikes. The last ATFF was held in 2023, but now a successor is close to launching, and it will concentrate solely on motorcycle travel. The Adventure Motorcycle Film Festival will debut on 28th February 2026 at the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal, Cumbria. Sponsored by gear specialists Adventure Spec, the one-day festival has been organised by podcasters Clive Barber (Trail and Adventure Motorbike Podcast) and Simon Josey (Reel Riders Podcast). Barber told MCN there were would eight to ten internationally-made films shown on the day, selected by a

NMC Calls for Improved Grant for Zero Co2 Motorcycles

The Government’s announcement for a renewed Electric Car Grant puts focus on the need to boost and increase the scope of the current electric motorcycle grant In response to the Government’s announcement of a new Electric Car Grant, the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) is today calling on the Government to both renew the Grant when it comes up for review early next year and to increase the level and scope of support that it provides for buyers of alternative propulsion motorcycles. The current motorcycle grant was launched in 2016 to help ‘bridge the price gap between the cost of zero emission and petrol motorcycles’. Originally, the grant was 20% of the cost of an electric motorcycle up to a maximum of £1,500. But

‘Smarter designs of safety barriers can save motorcyclists’ lives’

A new study is sounding the alarm on the hidden threat all motorcyclists are aware of: the steel safety barriers lining thousands of kilometres of roads. Motorcyclists across Europe are familiar with the dangers of slippery curves and unexpected obstacles. Researchers confirm that these barriers, designed primarily to protect car occupants, are a serious risk to motorcyclists in a specific type of accident: upright crashes. When a rider hits a barrier in an upright position, their chest or abdomen often slams directly into the sharp upper edge of the guardrail. The research paper calls for better guardrails to protect motorcyclists in these upright crashes. While ‘motorcycle-friendly’ barriers already exist to reduce injuries from sliding crashes, where riders slide into the barrier after

Honda Develops Electrics…while UK incentives fall behind

Honda appears to be developing a battery-electric sports bike as well as a 125cc-equivalent machine, if its patent applications are any guide – but at the same time, the UK Government has been accused of neglecting sales incentives for electric bikes, while expanding them for battery-powered cars. According to a report in Visor Down, the projected sports bike looks like an ‘electric FireBlade’ and shows certain similarities with the Honda-sponsored Mugen Shinden electric TT racer, which won the TT Zero race on the Island six times. Both bikes have the motor and transmission mounted relatively far back, creating more space for the battery and electronics, plus allowing for a longer swingarm and shorter wheelbase. An integrated motor, swingarm and rear suspension is

Safety council again recommends mandatory testing to cover all motorcycles, without proof

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) published its 19th PIN annual report, analyzing the 20,017 deaths on EU roads in 2024. In this report, the ETSC again calls for periodic technical inspections for all motorcycles and mopeds without offering any proof of safety gains. The ETSC recommends to extend testing to cover all motorcycles, including mopeds, without exemptions: as a minimum, first inspection after four years, subsequent inspections every two years, then every year after that. But more on that later, let's look at the road safety numbers first. The EU has set a target to halve the number of road deaths by 2030, based on their level in 2019. Most European countries have similar national targets. The 19th PIN report paints

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